Letter from Sydenham Moore near the James River in Virginia, to his wife, Amanda.

Letter from Sydenham Moore near the James River in Virginia, to his wife, Amanda.

During the Civil War, Moore served as a colonel of the 11th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the letter he discusses his oldest son's enlistment in the army; though he originally preferred for his son to join some other company, he had come to hope that Alfred would join him instead: "I wante...

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Format: Electronic
Published: Alabama Department of Archives and History
Subjects:
Alabama documents
Online Access:http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/voices/id/3137
format Electronic
collection Alabama Textual Materials Collection
building Alabama Department of Archives and History
publisher Alabama Department of Archives and History
topic Alabama documents
spellingShingle Alabama documents
Letter from Sydenham Moore near the James River in Virginia, to his wife, Amanda.
fulltopic Alabama documents
Moore, Amanda Melvina Hobson; Moore, Sydenham, 1817-1862; Soldiers--Confederate States of America; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military life; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military personnel; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Social aspects
description During the Civil War, Moore served as a colonel of the 11th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the letter he discusses his oldest son's enlistment in the army; though he originally preferred for his son to join some other company, he had come to hope that Alfred would join him instead: "I wanted him to be with me & had so advised him - Here I could have nursed him if sick & seen him well attended to - besides I sh'd have enjoyed his society...I have, however finally come to the conclusion that it is perhaps all for the best...There is an advantage in a boys setting out & paddling his own course." He then discusses the future of his younger son, Rittenhouse: "I wish Rit could get a situation. He is too delicate to bear the hardships of a private soldier - I will exert myself to get him a cadetship or some other position & only regret that I have no good one to give him...If the University is open he had better go there & be learning all he can & then besides he will be learning to make an officer & soldier." He also mentions possible fighting with Union forces ("Tomorrow is my birth-day & I have been telling my men that I expected to celebrate it with a big-fight"); conditions in camp; the quality and "exorbitant" cost of provisions in the area; and his commitment to his post despite his longing for home: "...I feel that our lives are at the disposal of our over ruling Providence - and that if it is his will that I sh'd fall that I could not fall in a better cause...battling for my wife & children - repelling a foe that w'd reduce them to ruin, if not disgrace - deprive them of all they have...my heart & mind & soul are enlisted in the cause."
spelling Q0000022498 - Q0000022505Q22498 - Q22505Letter from Sydenham Moore near the James River in Virginia, to his wife, Amanda.During the Civil War, Moore served as a colonel of the 11th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the letter he discusses his oldest son's enlistment in the army; though he originally preferred for his son to join some other company, he had come to hope that Alfred would join him instead: "I wanted him to be with me & had so advised him - Here I could have nursed him if sick & seen him well attended to - besides I sh'd have enjoyed his society...I have, however finally come to the conclusion that it is perhaps all for the best...There is an advantage in a boys setting out & paddling his own course." He then discusses the future of his younger son, Rittenhouse: "I wish Rit could get a situation. He is too delicate to bear the hardships of a private soldier - I will exert myself to get him a cadetship or some other position & only regret that I have no good one to give him...If the University is open he had better go there & be learning all he can & then besides he will be learning to make an officer & soldier." He also mentions possible fighting with Union forces ("Tomorrow is my birth-day & I have been telling my men that I expected to celebrate it with a big-fight"); conditions in camp; the quality and "exorbitant" cost of provisions in the area; and his commitment to his post despite his longing for home: "...I feel that our lives are at the disposal of our over ruling Providence - and that if it is his will that I sh'd fall that I could not fall in a better cause...battling for my wife & children - repelling a foe that w'd reduce them to ruin, if not disgrace - deprive them of all they have...my heart & mind & soul are enlisted in the cause."1862 May 241862-05-241860-1869Moore, Amanda Melvina Hobson; Moore, Sydenham, 1817-1862; Soldiers--Confederate States of America; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military life; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military personnel; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Social aspectsTextCorrespondenceMoore, SydenhamSydenham Moore family papersSPR693v34123Alabama Department of Archives and History, 624 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36130EnglishThis material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though ADAH has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.600 PPI TIFFhttp://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/voices/id/3137
title Letter from Sydenham Moore near the James River in Virginia, to his wife, Amanda.
titleStr Letter from Sydenham Moore near the James River in Virginia, to his wife, Amanda.
url http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/voices/id/3137
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